Happy 5th Birthday Littlest Diva

5 years ago today this amazing little girl came into our lives!

She is so full of laughter, adventure & mischief.

This Lil Diva definitely keeps us on our toes at all times

but we wouldn't have it any other way.

May she always have the same sparkle & zest for life that she has today.

She keeps us laughing with her silly jokes and funny faces,

always a performer - may she always shine bright.

She makes us proud with her determination and "I can do it" attitude,

may nothing or anyone ever stand in her way!

Most importantly, she fills our hearts with love 

with her constant cuddles, hugs & kisses,

may she always know how much we love her 

and how proud we are to have her as our daughter.

Happy 5th Birthday My Lil Super Diva!

I Love You!

xoxoxoxo

Wordless Wednesday - Sun, Surf, Shells & the Sandy Shores of Sanibel

This past weekend I went to Sanibel, FL.

It was A-M-A-Z-I-N-G!

I experienced gorgeous sunrises,

and breathtaking sunsets.

I took a boat ride to Captiva,

saw dolphins and manatees swimming all around me,

and had the best shelling experience ever!

I can't wait to go back!

Bern

The Children's Place - Girl's Summer Wear Review

By now you know that I am addicted to shopping at The Children's Place. 

Their clothes are adorable, affordable and great quality!

We were recently given the opportunity to shop at The Children's Place 

to review their summer line while tweeting our experience during the shopping event & share our thoughts with our followers here on the blog.

I loved all the fab dresses, flip flops, sandals and swim wear -

so many bright colors and fun designs that were perfect for the Lil Divas.

Here's what I bought (I was given a gift card to shop during the event):

I loved these tiered ruffled tie dye dresses

& the floral headband was a bug hit & 

goes with so many different outfits -

This color block dress is perfect for summer -

Denim shorts are always a must have but the purple flower belt paired with the floral top made this my fave outfit from this shopping trip -

Did you know that TCP swimsuits are UPF 50+ and treated for extra UV protection? I am loving that extra protection and the designs were so fun. My favorites were the Paisley Tankinis -

Paired with fun flip flops (which I loved, especially the mismatched ones!) & matching sunglasses the Lil Divas are ready for the beach, pool and water park this summer!

I will definitely be picking up more fun & protective swimwear.

Right now there is a swim shop sale going on with $10 swimwear.

Don't miss it!

I LOVE the fab sales that TCP offers so often,

it makes shopping so much more affordable.

Have you shopped TCP lately?

What items and/or deals have you scored?

Bern

Disclaimer: I received a giftcard from The Children's Place to shop & share our experience. That being said, this review is my 100% honest opinion of the Children's Place clothing. Please remember that your opinions and tastes might differ from ours. 

The Sunday Showcase (5/20/12) Showcasing Child Centered Ideas from Around the Web!

Hello & welcome to this week's
  The Sunday Showcase -

WHERE YOUR CHILD CENTERED IDEAS
are the STARS of the show!

 

<a href="http://momto2poshlildivas.blogspot.com/" target="_blank"><img alt="Classified: Mom" src="http://classifiedmom.webs.com/sundayshowcase1.png"/></a>

It is so exciting each week to see all the amazing child centered ideas shared here! We invite you to look around & check out what our fellow bloggers have linked-up this week. We know you will leave here inspired and ready to create, play & have fun!

If you are here for the first time please read

our informational post for the full details.

Here's the quick cheat sheet version -
this is a fun & relaxed linky with a few simple guidelines.

Anything kid friendly and/or child centered is welcome!

You are welcome to share more than one post,
but we don't accept links for giveaways, 
shops, or downloads for purchase, etc. They will be deleted.

If you're linking up we do encourage you

to visit some of the other link-ups!

Everyone appreciates comments, encouragement, feedback, etc.

Your 2 Hostesses (Mom to 2 Posh Lil Divas and/or Classified:Mom)

try to visit & comment on link(s) as much as we can.

We also share some on Facebook, Twitter or Pinterest. 

We aim to spread the love &
we appreciate you joining in and sharing with us here!

*Important* 

Please note that by linking up you are giving us permission to use a photo (with proper link to you!) in our featured section!  If you prefer not to be featured comment below or e-mail me.

------------------------------------------------------------- 

The Showcase Features:

(taken from last week's posts)

Our most clicked link this week was... 

The Next Generation Homeschooler's

Week of Science Fun

Some of our faves from this past week:


Train Up a Child had lots of fun with
their Pool Noodle Obstacle Course -
what a fun summertime play & fitness idea!

Creative Family Fun shared

10 Ways to Explore the World without Leaving Home

Adventures at Home With Mum

shared some cool Stain Glass Bookmarks

Leapfrog & Ladybugs showed us how to make a
1st Ballet Shoe Keepsake Shadow Box

If you have been featured, grab a button you deserve it!

<a href="http://www.classifiedmom.com/" target="_blank"><img alt="Classified: Mom" src="http://classifiedmom.webs.com/hostedon.png"/></a>

-------------------------------------------------------------

From your 2 Hostesses:

Mom to 2 Posh Lil Divas:

Exploring Vincent Van Gogh & Oil Painting

Classified Mom: 

Vegetable Shapes Garden Kid's Craft

Thank You for sharing your ideas with us!

Aimee (Classified:Mom) & Bernadette (Mom to 2 Posh Lil Divas)

Kids Get Arty - Exploring Vincent Van Gogh

 I was SUPER excited to team up with Red Ted Art, Imagination Soup, Imagination Tree & Tinkerlab to bring you Kids Get Arty - a bi-monthly link up which is meant to encourage exploration of the great artists!

I was planning on exposing the Lil Divas to some of our great artists as well as different works of art. This is a fabulous way for us to keep motivated and share our experience with our fabulous readers.

This month I introduced the Lil Divas to Vincent Van Gogh. I chose to start with him because the oldest Diva was intrigued by some things she had heard about him at school (yes, the infamous ear!) 

We began by exploring some wonderful books about the artist and his works:

 

Then the Lil Divas each one of their favorite pieces to recreate. I was a bit worried about how it would go. They expressed concern about doing it "right" and it not looking like the original work. I emphasized that there was no "wrong" way to do this and I wanted them to do it their way. The point was to explore doing something new, discover new artists and learn a thing or two along the way.

Exploring Oil Painting 

& Vincent Van Gogh

The Lil Divas had their first experience with oil paint on canvas.

Once they got a feel for it & just let loose - it was awesome!

The Oldest Diva decided to recreate "Starry Night" a painting she had learned about at school. 

Using a picture from one of the books we read, she used oil paints on canvas to recreate her own "Starry Night". She was very concerned at first that hers did not look like the photo as she worked. I told her to use small strokes and not worry so much about blending them in and that helped a little. 

She was very proud of her final masterpiece & with good reason! I think she did a great job capturing the essence of the piece at only 6 years old.

The Littlest Diva opted to recreate Van Gogh's "Sunflowers" 

(not a big surprise!).

She was so excited about her happy sunflowers!

This is her first piece of art on canvas (5 years old) 

and I am a proud Mama.

The Lil Divas are excited about our Kids Get Arty challenge ( so is this Mama)

and our first challenge was wildly successful and encouraging. 

I can't wait until our next challenge in July - we shall be exploring.....?

 Want to join in on the fun?

 Explore a Great Artist of your choosing & then Get Arty with your kids.
Then show us what you did by joining in our linky party (see below).

Can't wait to see what everyone has been up to!

Bern

Science Fun: From Caterpillar to Butterfly - Observing the Butterfly Life Cycle

A few weeks ago we got our caterpillars from Insect Lore.

We raised caterpillars last year and the Lil Divas loved it,

so I was excited to do it again with them this year.

Our caterpillars arrived larger than usual

& I think it's because delivery took awhile

and they were happily eating in transit.

Day 1 (after arrival)

Day 3 - they were getting bigger fast

Day 5 - we woke up to 2 chrysalis!

Day 7 - the girls got to observe the j shape before the chrysalis

Day 9 - We had all 5 caterpillars make their chrysalis

One had fallen so I just lay it down 

in the pavilion & hoped for the best.

In less than a week our first 2 butterflies emerged.

The Lil Divas were so excited to see them.

The Painted Lady Butterflies were beautiful.

The wings look so unassuming,

until they fully open.

Over the course of the next few days,

all 5 of our butterflies successfully emerged.

We fed them orange slices and sugar water.

It was wonderful to observe them.

The Lil Divas watched them eat, walk and eventually fly.

Once they were strong enough & their wings were dry,

we had a releasing ceremony outside.

We were sad to see them go but also proud of our little friends.

It was truly a fabulous learning experience for the Lil Divas

to be able to observe the life cycle of a butterfly firsthand.

Books We Read:

Have you raised caterpillars?
What was your experience like?

Bern

A NOT So PERFECT Mom....ME!

Amidst all the cards, homemade gifts and school tea parties for Mother's Day I can't help but reflect on it..... MOTHERHOOD.

I am NOT a perfect Mom.
I yell more than I care to admit.
I get frustrated, cranky and tired.
I definitely don't have it all together.

Our meals are not always nutritious.
My house isn't always neat and tidy.
Sometimes we run out of clean socks
because I'm behind on laundry.

I say "no" to things the Lil Divas want.
Sometimes, I say "maybe later" to things they want me to do.
And I say "yes" to way too many things that take up a lot of time,
and even more importantly - takes away from their time with me.

I am NOT a perfect Mom.

But, I love my girls so much more than I ever thought humanly possible.
I work hard everyday to be a good Mom to them.
I do my best to teach them to be good, caring people
and to work hard for what they want.

I hope I inspire them to dream.
BIG.
I hope that they grow up feeling special & important.
Because they are.
They are also so very loved,
even when I am tired & cranky Mom
and looking forward to the quiet that bedtime brings.

I am NOT a perfect Mom.
I don't have to be.
I do my best each day.
Some days my best is better than others
but I am always learning,
always trying,
always growing
right along with them.

I am NOT a perfect Mom.
I am still learning.
They have taught me so much.
I have learned so much more about myself
since I became a Mom.
I have been surprised by what I am capable of.
I am a stronger, wiser, gentler
and more compassionate version of myself.


Every day of motherhood brings its own adventure.
I am NOT a perfect Mom.
But I am up for the challenge
to try to be the best Mom I can be.
Because although I am far from perfect,
I know I am just right for them.

I know no one can love them more,
do more or want more for them than me.
I am their Mom.
They are my babies.
We are perfect for each other.

Bern

PS - The photo above is what we made the grandma's for Mother's Day!
Cuteness right? I LOVE how it turned out! Need to make one for me.

The Sunday Showcase - Sharing Child Centered Ideas From Around the Web

Happy Mother's Day to all the wonderful Mamas out there
& welcome to this week's
  The Sunday Showcase -

WHERE YOUR CHILD CENTERED IDEAS
are the STARS of the show!

 

<a href="http://momto2poshlildivas.blogspot.com/" target="_blank"><img alt="Classified: Mom" src="http://classifiedmom.webs.com/sundayshowcase1.png"/></a>

This linky is always full of amazing child centered ideas!

We invite you to look around & check out

what our fellow bloggers have linked-up this week.

We know will leave here inspired and ready to create, play & have fun!

If you are here for the first time please read

our informational post for the full details.

Here's the quick cheat sheet version -
this is a fun & relaxed linky with a few simple guidelines.

Anything kid friendly and/or child centered is welcome!

You are welcome to share more than one post,
but we don't accept links for giveaways, 
shops, or downloads for purchase, etc. They will be deleted.

If you're linking up we do encourage you

to visit some of the other link-ups!

Everyone appreciates comments, encouragement, feedback, etc.

Your 2 Hostesses (Mom to 2 Posh Lil Divas and/or Classified:Mom)

try to visit & comment on link(s) as much as we can.

We also share some on Facebook, Twitter or Pinterest. 

We aim to spread the love &
we appreciate you joining in and sharing with us here!

*Important* 

Please note that by linking up you are giving us permission to use a photo (with proper link to you!) in our featured section!  If you prefer not to be featured comment below or e-mail me.

------------------------------------------------------------- 

The Showcase Features:

(taken from last week's posts)
The "most clicked" link:

2 Big, 2 Little's Water Play Fun

Some favorites from this past week:
The Next Generation Homeschooler family
shared an amazing Earthquake Science Fair Project

Train Up a Child played a fun & educational 

Letter Sounds & Sight Word Water Spray Game 

Familylicious Reviews & Giveaways
showed us how to make lots of Sensory Bottles

Growing a Jeweled Rose made the coolest
Glowing Mad Science Lab!

If you have been featured, grab a button you deserve it!

<a href="http://www.classifiedmom.com/" target="_blank"><img alt="Classified: Mom" src="http://classifiedmom.webs.com/hostedon.png"/></a>

-------------------------------------------------------------

From your 2 Hostesses:

Mom to 2 Posh Lil Divas:

Kid Sized Recycled Robot

Classified Mom: 

Hand & Footprint Lizard (Iguana) Kid's Craft

Thank You for linking up with us!

Aimee (Classified:Mom) & Bernadette (Mom to 2 Posh Lil Divas)